Inspired by income inequities, in 2015 Governor Jerry Brown proposed a new adult education program as part of a statewide workforce initiative. Legislative leadership in both the state Assembly and Senate shared the same aims as the Governor, especially in regard to adult literacy, citizenship preparation, and employment training opportunities.
More than a million students enroll in adult education programs funded by the CAEP each year. The CAEP delivery system is aligned along California community college district boundaries. The amount of funding for the CAEP program allocated by the Legislature in 2019-20 and 2020-21 was $538.5 million per year. Funds allocated for the 2021-22 year are expected to increase.
With the 2020-21 school year, California’s new adult education program is now in its sixth year of operation. The provisions governing the program were set forth in AB 104 (2015,) and these are reflected in the California Education Code sections 84900 to 84920.